gistfile1.txt

In [1]: import salt.config

In [2]: import salt.loader

In [3]: import salt.renderers.yaml

In [4]: 

In [4]: content = open('test.sls').read()

In [5]: __opts__ = salt.config.minion_config('minion.conf')

In [6]: __salt__ = salt.loader.minion_mods(__opts__)

In [7]: salt.renderers.yaml.render(content)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)
<ipython-input-7-eee27486c830> in <module>()
----> 1 salt.renderers.yaml.render(content)

/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/salt/renderers/yaml.pyc in render(yaml_data, saltenv, sls, argline, **kws)
     63             data = {}
     64         else:
---> 65             if isinstance(__salt__, dict):
     66                 if 'config.get' in __salt__:
     67                     if __salt__['config.get']('yaml_utf8', False):

NameError: global name '__salt__' is not defined

minion.conf

file_root: .
file_client: local

test.sls

something:
  file:
    - managed
    - source: salt://test/path
    - owner: root
    - group: root
    - mode: 0644